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Meet the Characters: the Powerful Inner Spirits of Persona 4

Get to know some of the Personas that grant the characters their powers

At the heart of the Persona games is the concept of the summoning of the inner self, one's Persona, to aid in the fight against shadows and darkness. In Persona 4, an entirely new cast provides a brand new set of Personas for the players to get to know. These beautiful and often intimidating figures are not just merely for show; each draws upon real-world mythology, and often each represents a hidden facet of the person to whom they belong.

Look below to learn more about the Personas you'll encounter in the upcoming RPG epic:

Izanagi (Protagonist's Main Persona)
One of the ancient gods who existed before Japan was formed. He created the Ouyashima from chaos, then gave birth to countless children and laid the foundation of soil and nature. After his wife Izanami died during Hi-no-Kagutsuchi's birth, he ventured to the underworld Yomi to retrieve her, but was unable to do so.

Tomoe (Chie Satonaka's Persona)
As a high-ranking female samurai, Tomoe Gozen was an unusual figure in feudal Japan. When her lover Yoshinaka Minamoto made a bid to become the Minamoto clan leader, she fought to defend him against the other branches of the Minamoto family. However, accounts vary regarding her actions during the final battle in which Yoshinaka died.

Jiraiya (Yosuke Hanamura's Persona)
This ninja appeared in several popular Edo-era stories and plays. His toad magic enabled him to control and ride toads, as well as turn into a giant toad himself in some stories. Alongside his wife Tsunade, a devotee of slug magic, he battled the snake magic-wielding Orochimaru, who was once Jiraiya's disciple.

Konohana Sakuya (Yukiko Amagi's Persona)
She was the daughter of the mountain god Ouyamatsumi. When she became Ninigi's wife and grew pregnant on the first night of their marriage, he accused her of infidelity. She stood in a burning hut, claiming that the fire would not touch her if she had been faithful, and emerged unscathed. Her emblem is the cherry blossom.

Kintoki-Douji (Teddie's Persona)
When the legendary figure Kintaro reached adulthood, he took the name of Sakata no Kintoki. His childhood friends were the animals on the mountain where he grew up, and he regularly proved his incredible strength when playing with them. He was rarely seen without his tomahawk, with which he helped local woodcutters fell trees.
As part of the special holiday "Atlus Spoils" program, Persona 4 is brimming with premium extras. Not only will each and every copy include a free soundtrack CD featuring music from the game, but fans who pre-order at select retailers will also receive "Persona 4 Visual Data," a 7"x10" full-color art book featuring designs from famed artist Shigenori Soejima (while supplies last).